How to easily learn to speak different languages

Sometimes you think that you are simply unable to learn a particular language. What to do this you simply need to fully integrate into the environment, which is said in the target language, it takes time, patience and ability. Someone may think that because of age he was already all available. But it is not so!

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So, we advise the author guest post on Zenhabits Benny (Irish polyglot)? In school, he was not good at learning foreign languages, but now can safely say in eight languages ​​and understand a few others. Of course, the author has traveled extensively and he has to speak in other languages. Though virtually all over the world in more or less civilized countries, you can always explain in English, it does not abuse Benny. Instead, he tries to communicate with the joy of the country in which he came on the tongue.

He says that in order to learn foreign languages ​​is not necessary to invest a lot of money in courses, individual lessons and special training programs. To do this, just need to follow simple guidelines.

The correct approach to learning

Benny believes that every person can learn to be fluent in the language in just a few months. The school time is spent learning languages ​​is not entirely correct. We spend a lot of time on theory, to perform uninteresting and not tied to the reality of the exercises, simply translate the text and retell them. All this, of course, contributes to, but is not very effective.

Devoted to the study of language at least an hour a day, ideally, of course, a little bit more. But do not just sit and bison cards with words and rules, and do it deliberately, with interest. You do not just want to talk in the language selected. For you, it should be a must! You must begin to speak the language with people right now.

Cease to learn the language and start to talk to him

Remarkably, if you are free to listen to the radio or podcasts, read a book in the target language. But to understand and to speak - are two different things. If the former, you can do perfectly, then the second can be a big problem, to the point that you can not say is connected and two simple sentences. To have a good talk, you have to practice often. Language can not memorize as biology or history. It's living matter, which is constantly moving and evolving.

Do not be afraid to talk with errors. Around happy to help you simply because they are pleased that a foreigner tries to speak in their own language. You're not on the exam in school, right?

Do not wait for completion of the course, take matters into your own hands

Do not wait for the end of the course, start practicing! There are people who can be called a walking dictionary. They know a lot of interesting and complex words, can easily explain the grammar, but can not speak normally. Do not think about how perfectly accurate to say, just say it. If you concentrate on the ideal, is never finished learning the language. Language in itself is communication. Do not be afraid if you do not have a very large vocabulary, because many difficult words can be explained by the more simple.

You do not have to travel, to learn the language

Now there is a huge amount of services that allow you to communicate in real time with native speakers. Take the same Skype. I myself tried - quite funny, especially with video.

Meetup.com - a service where you can communicate with people from different countries. Registration is simple, search, too.

Couchsurfing - even more interesting service. Here you can register and settle at home travelers from different countries. Similarly, you can live with any of the registered users. For their safety can not worry - everything is checked and registered, you can freely read the reviews about a particular host and choose the appropriate option. Participants even have their guarantors. Plus members meet periodically at various international meetings - a great reason to go to the country whose language you started to study. The site has a lot of interesting information and it just requires a separate review.

And you can thoroughly search and find options of free communication with native speakers in their own city. Many embassies allow for a nominal fee to use their libraries in cultural centers. There you can find a group of the communication. It's much cheaper (and sometimes even free) rates, and to sense more. You do not just hang out, you have to absorb the information.

In the end, you can stick to any sergeant (elder) in the street with the question of where this Rheine their community and find out if they hold classes for those who wish. Unfortunately, I do not know how to call them. But it is Mormons who come to different countries for a few years for his mission. They always go in pairs and on the clothes they have a badge with the name, and in his hands is common to see the Book of Mormon. But fear not, they will not agitate you to their faith. To do this, they have a specially designated time and place. And on such imaginative courses, where the evening is just going to a group of different ages wishing and talking about everything, but in English, they are about their faith do not say. Usually, it's free and takes place twice a week. I went to these courses two years - we have selected a very mixed bunch and friendly company, we played in the quizzes and games, watching movies in English. The only time they talked about the history of the Mormons was at our request, as we just take the exam at the university religion. If we asked our "teachers" explained to us grammar and why you need to talk that way.

But you can get caught and boring, so that there could be as lucky. If you do not like it, no one will hold you. You just quietly go away and find yourself a company like (that such gatherings in the city can be a lot). I saw them not only in Kiev but also in Rome and in Cracow.

Leave your own mistakes perfectionism back and forth! Look for different ways to practice and try to find what is right for you. And regardless of your age and talent you will succeed. Even my mother in 45 years has been able to learn Italian, go to university and graduated with honors!